Question

A Diet Without Enough Protein Can Cause Depression

Depression is a condition so common, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls it “a leading cause of disability.”

Difficulty in falling asleep, loss of appetite, and loss of ability to concentrate are just a few of the other effects of depression. WHO estimates that worldwide, at any one time, 350 million people suffer from the condition. While life events such as the loss of a spouse or a job may create a happening of depression, many cases come from within and are not caused by a life event.

Now scientists are working on a new aspect of cure: nutrition. 1. The Indian Journal of Psychiartry reports that both before and during a happening of depression, those with the condition will show a “poor appetite…” 2. Many cases of depression, if not most cases, affect those who don’t eat properly.

So what does protein have to do with all this? It all comes down to amino acids (氨基酸). Proteins are made up of amino acids, chemicals known as the “building blocks of life.” There are 20 different amino acids. 3.

Both the human brain and nervous system use amino acids as a substance that creates a signal from one brain cell to another or one nerve cell to another, thus relaying information between the cells. What the final result then? 4.

Since amino acids make up protein, a diet which lacks in protein will cause weaker communication between the brain cells. This lessens the signal being sent from one brain cell to the next during a thought. 5. This is why depression can often express itself as anger or aggression.

A. The ultimate effect is how we think.

B. Don't ruin your appetite by eating between meals.

C. Skipping meals itself can create a depressed mood.

D. A new research suggests that nutrition can lessen some of the risks of depression.

E. India is perhaps the world’s leader in researching the connection between diet and depression.

F. Many of them are made by the human body, but nine others, the “essential” amino acids, must be eaten in one’s diet.

G. The process can lead to twisted signals, which can not only lead to depression, but also, according to many scientists, aggression.

Answer

1.E

2.C

3.F

4.A

5.G

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章表明：通过营养饮食可以在一定程度上治疗抑郁。文章详细介绍了“营养”和“抑郁”的关系。

1.前一句提到：科学家们正在致力于治疗抑郁症的一种方法：营养。下一句提到了印度精神病学杂志的报告。该空位于中间，选项中和前后句都有联系的只有E选项：在研究饮食和抑郁症之间的联系方面，印度也许是世界上领先的国家。故选E。

2.前一句提到：《印度精神病学杂志》报道，在抑郁症发生之前和期间，有这种情况的人将显示出一个“食欲减退......”后一句提到：许多抑郁症的病例，如果不是大多数的话，都会影响那些没有适当饮食的人。选项中只有C选项提到不当饮食：不吃饭本身就会造成抑郁情绪。

3.前一句提到：有20种不同的氨基酸。该空承接上文，应该提到和氨基酸有关的话题，故F选项切题：其中许多（氨基酸）是由人体制造的，但另外九种，即“必需的”氨基酸，必须在饮食中食用。

4.上文提到：人类大脑和神经系统都使用氨基酸作为一种物质，从一个脑细胞向另一个脑细胞或从一个神经细胞向另一个神经细胞发出信号，从而在细胞之间传递信息。最后的结果是什么？那么该句应该回答这个问题，提到最后的结果。故A选项正确：最终的效果是我们的思考方式。

5.上文提到：由于氨基酸构成了蛋白质，缺乏蛋白质的饮食会导致脑细胞间的交流减弱。这减少了思考过程中从一个脑细胞发送到另一个脑细胞的信号。G选项正确：这一过程可能导致信号扭曲，这不仅可能导致抑郁，而且，根据许多科学家的说法，攻击性。这就是为什么抑郁常常表现为愤怒或侵略。